by Staff Writer
Tuesday, 24th March 2026
West Ham United board member Daniel Kretinsky is appearing before the Business and Trade Committee today (24 March 2026) in a high-profile parliamentary session focused on the performance of Royal Mail.
The hearing marks his first appearance before MPs since his EP Group completed a £3.6billion takeover of Royal Mail’s parent company last year, placing him under direct political scrutiny.
The session forms part of growing concern among MPs about persistent delivery failures and declining service standards. The committee, chaired by Liam Byrne, has been particularly critical, describing Royal Mail as a “national institution in meltdown” amid widespread complaints from households and businesses.
Central to the questioning is Royal Mail’s failure to meet key delivery targets. Recent figures show that only 74.9% of First Class mail has been delivered on time this year, far below the 93% target, equating to millions of delayed letters. These shortcomings have triggered regulatory action, including fines from Ofcom, and intensified political pressure for reform.
Kretinsky. who acquired a 27% stake in West Ham back in November 2021, making him the club's second largest shareholder behind joint chair David Sullivan is expected to defend his company’s strategy and outline plans to modernise the postal service.
Royal Mail has argued that structural changes—such as adjustments to the Universal Service Obligation and a shift toward a more parcel-focused model—are necessary to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
However, critics, including the Communication Workers Union, claim that service issues reflect deeper problems such as staffing shortages, poor working conditions, and managerial decisions.
The hearing is therefore a pivotal moment for Kretinsky, who must reassure MPs that he can restore reliability while maintaining the universal service commitment. It also represents a broader test of how foreign ownership and commercial pressures will shape the future of a 500-year-old public service central to UK life.
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